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Helping You Navigate IEPs, One Tip at a Time. Tap Color Block to Learn Latest Hot Topics.

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A paperback book titled "your iep playbook: a parent's guide to confident advocacy" by lisa lightner is standing on a wooden table.

A Parent’s Guide to Confident Advocacy

Your IEP Playbook

An easy-to-understand guide to navigating and implementing your child’s individualized education plan (IEP).

Trusted by many

They say it takes a village. You found yours.

Special Education Advocate

Hey there! I’m Lisa!

I’ve been working as a Special Education Advocate since 2010. Along the way, I have met countless other advocates, attorneys and other professionals who now lend their knowledge to the site. I have helped thousands of parents like you. More about me.

A Trusted Special Needs Resource since 2011

Hundreds of posts. Thousands of IEP Goals and IEP accommodations. Tons of advice and tips after attending 100s of IEP meetings. Since 2011, A Day in Our Shoes has been a trusted resource for both parents and teachers navigating the IEP and 504 process.

A smartphone showcases a podcast episode titled "don't iep alone," set against a backdrop of a coffee cup, glasses, and colorful stationery, highlighting the importance of advocacy in special education.

Tune in to the

Don’t IEP Alone Podcast

Packed with straight talk, actionable tips, and a sprinkle of cursing, the Don’t IEP Alone Podcast tackles the toughest special education challenges head-on. Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for your child’s needs—and get to “Yes!” with the IEP team.

Listen. Advocate. Transform.



Turn That Stack of IEP Files Into a Clear Plan Before You Walk Into Your Next IEP Meeting

(and avoid costly, progress-delaying advocacy mistakes!)

The IEP toolkit is a set of 62 battle-tested IEP advocacy tools, both digital and PDF. I’ve been using these exact tools and templates to communicate with school teams, prepare for IEP meetings and help clients understand their IEP evaluations.

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Special Education Advocacy Training

Discover a NEW way of approaching the IEP process that gives you the strength, resources, and tools to become an empowered parent advocate for your child.

Most trainings either drown you in laws without showing you how to actually use them, or hand you lists of dream interventions without teaching you how to get them written into the IEP. The Academy bridges that gap—giving you both the know-how and the step-by-step strategies to make real change happen for your child.


Executive Functioning

Executive functions refer to a set of cognitive processes and skills that are responsible for the management and control of various mental functions. They are often considered the “CEO” or executive of the brain, as they oversee and coordinate higher-level thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and goal-directed behaviors.

Don’t leave empty handed!

An assortment of iep planning documents and worksheets awaits, including an iep organizer, complemented by a pen, sticky notes, and a coffee cup on the table. Perfect for anyone involved in special education advocacy seeking to streamline their process.

IEP Binder for Parents

Say goodbye to the chaos of IEP paperwork! Get my free IEP Organizer—a simple, effective tool to keep all your child’s IEP documents, goals, and progress tracking in one place.

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IEP Data Collection Sheets

Make IEP data collection a breeze! Download my free 28-page PDF packed with ready-to-use data collection sheets designed to save time and keep you organized.

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